From the Section of Humanitarian Law and Social Justice, JUUC: Aisha Yesufu, A True Wonderwoman

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 “Death for me is not when you can no longer breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. Death  is when you cannot speak in the face of injustice and tyranny because you are afraid to die”.

                                        ~ Aisha Yesufu 




Since gaining its independence in 1960, October 1st, Nigeria has witnessed immense growth such as becoming Africa's largest economy and the most populous black nation on earth. But even with this feats, Nigeria is not without its struggles. Like the several coups, civil war, ethnic clashes. The country is still dealing with corruption, corrupt leaders, its battle with the terrorist group (Boko Haram) and more recently, police brutality. One thing that has kept Nigeria going is the resilience of its people over its 62 years history. Activists have risen up and have demonstrated both strength and will to surmount the daunting challenges. When talking about political activism as of today, one can’t go without mentioning a formidable force as Mrs. Aisha Yesufu, whose voice and bravery would be heard in generations to come.


Aisha Somtochukwu Yesufu is a change-driven, impact-led Nigeria social political reformer, women's right activist, civil and community development crusader, public speaker and an educator. She is consistently demanding good governance, fighting for justice, fairness and equity. She lends her voice in support of women’s safety and empowerment (SDGs 16 and 5). In addition, she is a businesswoman who teaches financial literacy to empower people to be financially independent. We could say she truly is a Wonder Woman.




Asha Yesufu is from Agbede in Edo State of Nigeria but was born in Kano on the 12th of December, 1973 and is the first child of her parents. Upon acquiring elementary education in Kano state, she proceeded to Bayero University, Kano, for her undergraduate degree in 1999 where she bagged a Bachelor's degree in Microbiology, graduating with a second class upper division. Her quest for knowledge led her to take up a Masters degree in Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Aisha  is married to Aliu Osigwe Yesufu, a chartered accountant and their union is blessed with two children, Amir and Aliyyah Yesufu.

She is the founder of Citizens Hub (www.thecitizenshub.org), a non-profit organization that seeks to build a financially independent active and responsible citizenry through a solution-driven and dynamic approach which has successfully hosted a good number of attendees across Nigeria. Its vision to empower is built upon core focus areas of educating citizens on financial literacy, personal and social development.


Aisha Yesufu cofounded the ‘Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) Movement’ with Oby Ezikwesili. It brought to attention the 219 girls abducted in a secondary school in Chibok on 14th April, 2014, by the Boko Haram terrorist group. Although 107 girls were found, 112 are still in the hands of the terrorist. The BBAG campaign has become an effective platform that has successfully put the issue of the girls' rescue at the front burner of public discourse both locally and internationally. Despite all forms of intimidation and harassment from security agent and the government, they continue to advocate for the rescue of all the abductees and for a rapid containment of quelling of insurgency in Nigeria. The #bringbackourgirls trended across multiple platforms worldwide and attracted global attention from dignitaries like Michelle Obama Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.


As a public speaker, she has travelled to the United States, South Africa, United Kingdom, Argentina and other countries to provide engaging keynote speeches and to ignite discussions on the abduction of the chibok girls and other socio-political issues. Notably, she was invited to speak at the Edinburgh University CAS seminar on the many meanings of #EndSARs in Nigeria. She was a front-runner in the End-SARS protest against police brutality and bad governance in Nigeria. Also, she was a speaker at the Chatham House Africa programme organized by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Governance in Africa on “The Role Of Non-Violent Protest In Influencing Change And Delivery” and was invited to speak at the strategy session organised by the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) students on the EndSARs peaceful protest.



Lastly, Aisha is the convener of #Nigeria’s March Against Corruption, a peaceful demonstration against corruption within the Nigerian public sector. Aisha Yesufu has continued to remain a vocal critic of lax government policy and frequently advocates for good governance, accountability and transparency. She is an avid reader and writer and she has landed coverage in print and broadcast globally.


She is a force to be reckoned with. You can connect with her across all social media handles @Aisha Yesufu.







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